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Posted: September 7, 2006

Beyond Beauty lifts the lid on nanotechnology

(Nanowerk News) With the Beyond Beauty expo opening its doors in Paris this Monday, September 11, one of the key focuses will be innovation. And with nanotechnology proving to be one of the driving forces behind this trend, it is fitting that a series of conferences will highlight the importance of this technology in cosmetics formulation.

Organised by Simon Pitman, editor of CosmeticsDesign-Europe, the first of the two conferences will start off on the opening day at 1.15pm, with a focus on nanotechnology relating to UV filters.

The efficacy of sunscreens has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, thanks to innovations such as nano-developed zinc oxide UV filters. This development has led to a sunscreen that is easier to formulate, as well as being both easier and safer to use for consumers.

In a two-part presentation, the first part will be given by Thierry Devers, from the IUT Chartres. In his presentation Devers will be throwing light on the most recent innovations relating to nanotech UV filters, including the latest research into zinc oxides, which will centre on nanometric films.

The other part of the presentation will be given by Oxonica's Jonathan Stott, who will explain about the company's ground-breaking UV filter Optisol.

Although Optisol was launched on the market in 2004, it has developed a reputation as one of the industry's leading nanotech UV filters.

Stott will explain how the ingredient can be used to up a sunscreen UVA and UVB protection by minimizing on free radical generation during exposure to sun exposure, boosted by the fact that it also helps to stabilize cosmetic actives.

At 9.45am the following day, September 12, Gerd Dahms, will be giving a comprehensive insight into how nanotechnology is now being incorporated into cosmetics products, both to the benefit of the consumer and formulators.

Dahms, who will be representing the performance chemical division of the Finland-based Kemira group, will highlight how nanotechnology can be used to make fragrances last longer, sunscreens more effective and anti-ageing creams fight back the years.

Dahms will also touch on the issue of safety, a controversial area which has thrown up a number of studies questioning whether or not the application of the technology in cosmetic formulations should be more thoroughly researched before products are launched.

In fact, Dahms will argue that nanotechnology can actually be used to make cosmetic formulations safer, helping to protect the consumer from the ravages of the sun, for example, or simply by providing more effective products.

If you are attending the show in Paris and would like to attend either of these conference programmes you are advised to arrive early as attendance is expected to be high. Entry is free of charge.

Source: labtechnologist.com

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